WhatWorldNeedsNow

WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW —-

SCIENTIFIC ETHICS

Ethics deals with what is good for, and what is good within, human beings. Ethics comes into play in any serious discussion of the cosmic human questions: Who am I? How can I effectively be who I really am? What role does education play in helping a person find himself? What do I need science for? What practical applications does Scientific Ethics have to how I get by with my family, my work, my world? How does it help me survive? A mark of a genuine science of Ethics will be that it has relevance to these issues, these concerns of the “average” man and woman. Before we discuss ethical or moral value, it helps to understand value in general, so let me briefly explain some of the findings of value-science.

DIMENSIONS OF VALUE

Are you aware that making a telephone call involves some values? Usually when the word “value” is used people think of economic value, they think of bargains, cost-saving……but there are other senses besides economic for the word “value.” Did you know that integrity is a value, and creativity is a value, and reality has some value?

By using a telephone as our example {an idea due to Dr. David Mefford}, we may illustrate the three dimensions of value that emerge from the new Science of Value, first pioneered by a genius named Robert S. Hartman in 1950. The three dimensions which he defined and explored are called S, E, and I. These letters are shorthand for Systemic Value, Extrinsic Value, and Intrinsic Value. Let me explain each in turn.

No one could make a telephone call without there first being networks and circuits and switchboards and lines; and these could not exist without first having diagrams and blueprints for those circuits. These images and codes, these networks are systemic. This is S-value applied to telephoning. S-value is an abbreviation for Systemic Value.

The E-value of a telephone is the handset into which you speak, the receiver, the instrument itself. “E-value” designates Extrinsic Value.

The Intrinsic Value (or I-value) of telephoning are the meanings intended and communicated in the conversation, the reaching out and touching someone. All of this is involved in the act of telephoning — all three dimensions come into play.

Most significant is the final communication which takes place, the Intrinsic Value. The Science of Value logically proves that this must be the case, that I-value always is more relevant, more vital, than mere E-value or S-value. For this evidence you will need to refer to such classical work as Robert S. Hartman’s book, THE STRUCTURE OF VALUE, and to his other writings.

To sum up, Value Science demonstrates that there are three dimensions of value: S, E, and I. These roughly correspond to the intellectual values (which are S), the functional values (which are E), and the spiritual values (the I-values.) The S-values are the technicalities of science and engineering, the geometric circles, numbers, measurements, electrons, quarks, zipcodes, and other constructions of the mind. The E-values are the everyday values, the socio-economic, the competitive, the bodily, worldly, practical, public values such as tact, social polish, aptitude, success and so on. The I-values are values such as integrity, compassion, sensitivity, individuality, serenity, beauty, love, creativity, responsibility, harmony and so on.

Value Science, when applied to Ethics, results in many logical findings that are highly useful in everyday, practical life. The proofs and evidence for any claims made here in this discussion are to be found in technical dissertations such as, for example, the 500-page book entitled “Is A Science of Ethics Possible?”, by Marvin C. Katz, (unpublished mss.), a copy of which is located in the Archives of The R. S. Hartman Institute for Formal and Applied Axiology, in the Collection of the Library of The University of Tennessee, in Knoxville.

A journalistic treatment of one of the applications of the science is seen in the book by Rushworth M. Kidder, HOW GOOD PEOPLE MAKE TOUGH CHOICES – Resolving the Dilemmas of Ethical Living. (NY: Simon & Schuster, Fireside Books, 1995) He uses the dimensions of value which he calls “Rules based,” “Ends based” and “Care based” to solve moral dilemmas, and toward the end of his book, on page 221, he says “Given only one choice, I would take love.” Thus he acknowledges that love is the answer, that I-Value is superior to the other values.

It is not enough to know — in your mind — the importance and relevance of Intrinsic Value, but to experience it and live it. One major conclusion of the science of Ethics is: Live Intrinsically! That’s the imperative for your life. This is another way of phrasing the old adage: Be Yourself!

THE EXISTENCE OF MULTIPLE SELVES

“Be myself,” says the pimp, the junkie, the wino, the racketeer, the terrorist, the whore, the armed criminal, the tyrant. “That’s what I’m doing!”

No, the concept to which we refer is: Be true to your own true self…..your TRUE self, your REAL self. Be aware that you, as your real Self, are divine. Your true Self is continuous, harmonious, integrated, holisitic. And it is also connected, infinite, radiant, involved, responsible and full of integrity……in a word, Intrinsic. Let’s call it “El Magnifico.”

[Morality — moral value — meaures the degree to which an individual is true to himself or herself; that is, the degree to which he or she does live up to his or her self-image and the degree to which he or she values a self. In the Science of Ethics, technically speaking: morality is defined as “increasing correspondence with an improving self-ideal.” It is a very dynamic process; it implies that one must continue growing morally throughout one’s life.]

Your false (or transposed) self — which we could personify by giving it the name “El Protecto” — consists of all your frozen attitudes, your false or delusional beliefs, your unwarranted assumptions, your prejudices, your negative emotions (such as fear, guilt, resentment, disgust and anger) and your indifference to the Intrinsic Value in every other person — although admittedly some people need special treatment, since they are psychopaths, fanatics or stunted in their moral development.

When you let your Intrinsic Self shine, radiate, when you serve as a center of divine peace for others, when your presence blesses others, you live in Heaven all day long. This is not just a metaphor; it’s practical. You feel radiant, blissful, you feel a natural high.

Many individuals today who aren’t aware of these scientific conclusions seek an artificial high. They have developed a dependency, an addiction, on either ideas and/or ideologies; on substances or things; or even on people. There is a sensitive measuring instrument, The Hartman Value Profile, which detects and analyzes these subtle personality qualities along with other weaknesses, as well as measuring a person’s strengths, creativity, responsibility, etc. It produces some sixty clinical scores yet it takes only 10 minutes to complete it. It can be scored by computer. For further information, check out the web sites offered earlier, and the test may be taken while online.

HOW TO LIVE FULLY IN ALL DIMENSIONS

We have a mind, a body and a spirit. The mind is Systemic; the body is Extrinsic; and our spirit is Intrinsic. We ought to live fully in all dimensions, giving proper emphasis (according to their relative worth) to each of the value dynamics.

We ought to keep our mind alive. One way to do this is to solve puzzles. These logical challenges give the mind work to do. The mind can improve with age. This is a scientific fact — the mind can improve provided the body remains in superb health.

The way the spirit gets exercise is when “life is a struggle.” And sooner or later it is a struggle, for every one of us. Emerging from that struggle triumphantly, with our spirit intact, builds character. Therefore suffering, or “going through the acid crucible of life,” is something for which we should all be thankful. The highest rewards, value science demonstrates, come from the highest sacrifices or the hardest work.

Getting involved, Intrinsically valuing, is risky. It leaves you vulnerable. There is the possibility that you will suffer a loss of separation from the project or the person with whom you are involved, to which or to whom you give your love. And yet there is joy in Intrinsically valuing. This is what applied scientific Ethics stresses. Let us now analyze some positive emotions from a value-science perspective.

THREE POSITIVE EMOTIONS

There are three basic dimensions here: Satisfaction, Pleasure, and Joy. And there is a perversion of this which we label Euphoria — a false sense of pleasure. It is better to experience Joy than mere pleasure! That’s a fact. Feeling joy is “living in Heaven.”

INTRINSIC VALUE BETTER THAN SYSTEMIC VALUE

There is a logical and mathematical proof in Value Science that Intrinsic Value is better than Extrinsic or Systemic Value. When this is applied to Belief, the conclusion that results is that it is better to have Faith, which is Intrinsic-Belief, than to subscribe to an Ideology, which is Systemic-Belief. Certain fanatics, in the name of a faith of peace, subscribe to a political ideology which endorses violence. We see that their values are transposed, that is, twisted, and thus that they end up with very little if any value. They do not yet understand these relationships, these facts of Value Science. Do you understand? Can you agree that It is better to be loving, sharing, and creative — in other words to Intrinsically value — than not to. (If only we could gain agreement on these points, and convey the realization of these concepts to every intelligent being in this world, what a better world it will be. So if you have learned anything here, pass it on.) Now let us comment on the research questions posed at the beginning of these remarks.

HOW SCIENTIFIC ETHICS ANSWERS THE QUESTIONS

What role does Education play? This is the process of guiding a person to his own true self by firstly acquainting him with himself, or her with herself, showing him what he might become, and then offering him ways and means to become all he is capable of being. And of course what you do, and what you have, follow from what you are. Education, at its best, helps a person find himself, and be true to his own true self. So does therapy, or remedial education.

We have dealt sketchily and briefly with the initial questions: How can I effectively be who I really am? and What do I need science for? We have seen that scientific Ethics when applied may prove useful in getting us to where we really want to go. We have put forth the case that what the world needs now is scientific Ethics. If you agree, then spread the word.

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EDUCATIONAL TOPICS

This website gives information about the following topics and many others:
General Topics
Robert S. Hartman
Perspectives on values in
Values in business
Axiology
Value Theory
Values
Intrinsic
Extrinsic
Systemic
Personality Profiles
Hartman Value Profile
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BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS

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